Egypt Travel Guide: Complete Guide of Egypt

Egypt is a country in which it is possible to explore the Pyramids of Giza, sail on a Nile cruise, and enjoy some Red Sea beaches on a single holiday without it feeling like two or three holidays squeezed together. Most first-timers tend to stick to a similar route, with Cairo as the base for visiting the Pyramids and museums, Luxor and Aswan for exploring temples and tombs, and usually a couple of days on the coast — but the balance depends on how long you are there and how far you want to go. That said, this Egypt Travel Guide is more about planning than listing attractions, so many people will be looking at this with an itinerary in mind rather than a route, hence the Egypt Travel Packages.

The below can be thought of as a Guide of Egypt, with an overview of how the country splits up both in terms of geography and in terms of the type of travel you can expect, plus how to get from A to B and how long you should spend in each place.

Egypt itself spans a large area, but those places tourists want to see are located in a relatively narrow strip. So, in brief, the geography of this country can be represented by three "poles": the capital and largest city, Cairo, and the city of Giza located nearby, stretch along the Nile, the Valley of the Kings (Luxor) and Aswan, and the Red Sea coast and the Sinai Peninsula extend to the east of Cairo. The ancient port city of Alexandria extends to the northwest of the country into the Mediterranean Sea, while Western Desert oases are scattered further inland for those who are adventurous enough to explore Egypt's interior.

The result of this structure is that the itineraries in Egypt are largely focused on the Nile Valley and the Red Sea Coast. And since domestic flights in Egypt take about an hour, connecting different cities is not difficult, especially if an itinerary is built on a tight schedule. A typical 12-day Egypt Vacation package includes a flight from Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh (the closest airports to the Red Sea resorts) to Cairo, excursions in the capital, a cruise down the Nile to Luxor and Aswan, and free time on the Red Sea coast.

Cairo is the starting point of any Egypt tour. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx are located to the west of the city, whereas just nearby is the Grand Egyptian Museum housing the country's largest collection of antiquities, including all the treasures of Tutankhamun. Our guide to the Pyramids of Giza also includes an in-depth exploration of the plateau.

The capital of Egypt also has the Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, medieval Islamic Cairo with the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and the Citadel of Saladin, and Coptic Cairo with early Christian churches. It is recommended to spend three to four days in Cairo, which allows visiting the pyramids, one or two museums, and exploring a historical quarter without rushing.

Luxor has the most concentration of monuments in Egypt. The Karnak and Luxor Temples are located on the east bank of the Nile within the town of Luxor. On the western bank and across the river are the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon. This area is also well worth a visit and can be seen in two or three days, explains the best Egypt tour guide. Detailed information about these places can be found in the article Things to see in Luxor Egypt.

Further south, Aswan has a more relaxed pace and offers a visit to Philae Temple on an island in the Nile and a trip through papyrus paper mills and Nubian villages clinging to the river banks. The ancient Abu Simbel temples are also option for a day trip if you are willing to make the long journey to the border with Sudan. To discover more Things to Do in Aswan Egypt, Egypt you can read this post.

Between Luxor and Aswan there are a couple of interesting places to stop including the Kom Ombo and Edfu temples, both located on the banks of the Nile. It’s actually a good reason to take a boat tour up the river rather than driving back and forth. Egypt Nile Cruises that go from Luxor to Aswan and back are an easy option for seeing all these sites with a few nights on board, including stops at all three temples.

Egypt's coastline offers a different kind of trip entirely. Hurghada, on the mainland Red Sea coast, is the largest resort destination, with reefs close to shore and island day trips to Giftun and the surrounding bays. Sharm El Sheikh, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, draws divers toward Ras Mohammed National Park and Tiran Island.

Both are reachable by direct international flights, meaning a coastal stay doesn't require routing through Cairo. Four to five days suits either one, and travelers often use the coast as a decompression stretch after the sightseeing-heavy inland portion of a trip.

Alexandria, located on the Mediterranean Sea some three hours by train from Cairo, offers a Greco-Roman alternative to the pharaonic sites further south, including the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, and the Citadel of Qaitbay. Day trips from the capital are common.

Further, the Western Desert oases, including Siwa and the White Desert near Bahariya, are more suitable for those with an interest in landscapes than in monuments and have extra time to spare. A more comprehensive overview of what the country has to offer in all corners is available in Things to Do in Egypt.

Domestic flights are the fastest way to get around the country, with regular services on popular routes like Cairo–Luxor, Cairo–Aswan, and Cairo–coastal cities. There are also overnight trains running from Cairo to Upper Egypt if you're feeling particularly adventurous, and, for those who want to experience something truly unique, Nile River cruises can often be hired for transportation between Luxor and Aswan.

As a rough guideline, seven days should give you enough time to see Cairo and take a Nile River cruise. If you want to spend more time exploring Upper Egypt or taking a short break on the coast then ten days should do it. If you have two weeks then you'll have just enough time to do Cairo, the Nile, and a longer break down near the Red Sea without rushing around trying to cram everything in at once. Withing cities, ride-hailing apps or pre-arranged hotel transfers will often get you around faster than walking from district to district (especially in larger cities like Cairo).

1- How many days do I need to visit Egypt ?

It all depends on your interests. 7 days is enough to see Cairo and take a Nile cruise. If you want to spend more time in Upper Egypt, or simply relax on the Red Sea coast, 10 days will be perfect for that. 2 weeks is a great choice to see Cairo, take a Nile cruise and have some free time at the Red Sea.

2- What is the best route to see Egypt for the first time ?

The most common route begins in Cairo, continues by plane or Nile cruise to Luxor and Aswan, and ends with 2-3 days' relaxation on the Red Sea coast if you have enough time.

3- Is it possible to avoid taking a Nile cruise?

You can reach Upper Egypt by road, and it may seem a good idea. However, during the transfer from Luxor to Aswan by road, you will miss the chance to see the fascinating Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples. Also, taking the Nile cruise is a unique opportunity to explore Egypt as a whole and relive ancient history.

4- How can I get from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, and the Red Sea?

There are flights between all of Egypt's main destinations, and they usually take around an hour. The trains are also an option but need to know that they are overnight. Alternatively, you can fly to Upper Egypt.

5- Can I get to Egypt's coast without passing through the capital?

Yes, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh are the two major cities on the Red Sea, both of which have direct international flights. You can fly in and out of Hurghada or Sharm El-Sheikh.